The adjective used in the common names that have been applied to birds typically describes their appearance; the Red-headed Woodpecker, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, and the Red-eyed Vireo are all examples of how that is accurate. Occasionally however, the adjective in the common name does not TRULY give an accurate description of the bird that it is meant to describe.
Examples of this include: the Plain Chachalaca, the House Wren, and the Great Egret. One bird that is a fairly common summer resident in Texas falls into the latter category, and that is the Green Heron.
The Green Heron (Butorides virescens) occurs throughout the eastern onehalf of the United States during the summer months, with many migrating to the warmer areas of the Gulf Coast states during the winter. There are also isolated populations that are permanent residents along the Pacific coast. In Texas, it can be seen year-round in the central and southern portions of the state, and it can be a fairly common sight along the Rio Grande and Pecos River systems during the warmer months.
